MacDougall set to stay and fight on for Knights

Former Test winger Adam MacDougall is set to turn down a lucrative offer from Cronulla to stay in Newcastle and play for match payments next season.

MacDougall, who has played just 11 matches for the Knights since injuring his knee in last year's fourth-round clash against the Sydney Roosters, is expected to re-sign by the end of the week.

Initially contracted to Newcastle for next season, he renegotiated his deal earlier this season after concerns about the injury but now wants to stay.

"Cronulla are keen to get him, the Australian coach [Chris Anderson] is obviously there and Adam has representative aspirations, but I'd say at this stage it's hard for him to tear himself away from Newcastle," MacDougall's manager, George Liolio, said last night.

"He's played here for so long, it's a good side and he feels comfortable at the Knights.

"He hasn't signed, but I'd say he'll probably make a decision by the end of the week and Adam has turned down other offers in the past to stay in Newcastle for less money."

The news is a boost for the Knights heading into Saturday night's qualifying final against the Roosters at Aussie Stadium, with club officials yesterday telling veteran fullback Robbie O'Davis that they wanted to determine what MacDougall was doing before speaking to him again about his future.

Like MacDougall, O'Davis has received a drastically reduced offer from the Knights but he also appears likely to stay at the club, along with rookie hooker Luke Quigley, who was recently linked to Brisbane.

Broncos prop Andrew Gee, meanwhile, has played his last game unless the club makes the grand final from eighth position.

Gee, who is retiring at the end of the season, was last night suspended by the NRL judiciary for three matches after unsuccessfully seeking to have a careless high tackle charge downgraded.

Brisbane chief executive Bruno Cullen warned his players afterwards against getting caught up in the emotion of Gee's career-ending ban in Sunday's qualifying final against minor premiers Penrith. "As long as they don't get too mixed up in it," Cullen told reporters after the hearing.

"They have to win for themselves and the team first and not get too carried away with doing it for Gee."

The clash at Penrith Stadium has already been built up as a grudge match between the two clubs because of the Gorden Tallis-Ben Ross controversy earlier this season.

Ross, who required stitches after being on the receiving end of a barrage of Tallis punches, last night said the Panthers would not be intimidated.

"Most of these guys have no fear," Ross told Channel Seven. "We're all a good bunch of mates and we stick together.